Box Score The sophomores are growing into their roles. Bret Lukes and Travis VanElsberg, two of the nine second year players on the Hamline men's basketball roster, registered career highs Wednesday in the Pipers' 70-59 loss to St. Mary's at Hutton Arena.

Lukes (with ball) scored 14 points to lead the Piper offense and VanElsberg swept the boards with a game high eight rebounds. The Pipers also had recorded a season high 14 steals but dropped to 3-12 overall, 1-9 in the MIAC.

It was tight opening 20 minutes that saw the Cardinals go to the locker room with a 26-25 advantage. The Pipers suffered a blow when Zach Smith, their leading scorer, was injured late in the half and did not return to the game.  Lukes and Connor Knutson, who scored nine of his 10 points in the last 20 minutes of play, led the offense in the second half. Knutson finished with 10 points -- the seventh game in a row he has been in double figures. 

In addition to being solid on the boards, VanElsberg was quick with his hands as well, recording a career high four steals. 

Hamline is idle Saturday. They return to action Monday at Macalester. Game time is 7:00 p.m.